2010 Christmas Letter

As usual I never got around to sending out Christmas cards this year, but I did write a Christmas letter. I doubt I will actually mail it, but I figure I'll post it in all it's cliched glory...

Dear Random Family Member and/or Friend Who Happens to get This Card (because I love you and stuff but am too lazy to individually address this many letters).

It is the final stretch here at Casa De Ellis. I'm hoping to get this in the mail prior to Christmas, but in the past five years it hasn't happened...but who knows. So in that case, Merry Christmas, possibly Happy New Year, but if things go as I rather expect they will - Happy Valentines Day!

Our family has been rather busy this year. What have we been up to? I am so glad you asked. Most of the grand-kids have been accepted into MENSA, Mckinley danced Clara in the Nutcracker. The reviews were amazing, and she has been invited to dance with Ballet West on a continuing basis. James is in talks with NASA to be a consultant for the 2011 year and Brooke will be studying the whole drama Queen thing with Julliard. Paige is modeling for Vicki's for their new children's line and looks so cute in her wings. Parker is keeping busy working out at the gym. He is touted to be the youngest male gymnast at the 2012 Olympics. I have been taking phone calls from agents who would like to represent Treagan and Riley as well. Preston and Kaden have been involved in a variety of humanitarian service projects, including helping to fetch and carry bricks and mortar for Habitat for Humanity. They will be starting a new foundation that includes furnishing a coat for every child on the globe as well as ending world hunger.

No, I'm totally lying. I just figured stretching the truth is what people typically do in Christmas letters, might as well make them really GOOD lies, right?

Honestly, I do have a wonderful family. My children and grand-kids are my life. The grand-kids all have learned to bat their eyelashes at Grammy and get whatever they want.

Basically for myself this year, I have made not having my stuff together my goal for 2010 and I am so very proud to announce I have succeeded. Maybe this new years resolution thing isn't so bad - I just need to be careful about 'what' goals I choose.

I know I don't very often share my serious thoughts, and things I know to be true. But it has been a season of love and sharing around here and I would feel ungrateful if I didn't take this opportunity to share a few of my thoughts. I know that my Savior, Jesus Christs, lives and that he loves me unconditionally. I see his influence every day in my life. It appears in the faces of friends, the hugs of grandchildren, the thoughtfulness of my children, the love I see in my home and in the homes of my children and their families. He is, simply put love in its greatest, most selfless form.

During this season of presents and things and rushing and food and family and friends and light, I must take a moment to acknowledge the greatest light in my life: my knowledge of who I am and what my purpose is in this life. I am here to get better at being me. And this me is an eternal being created by a loving Father and Mother. And the individual who makes it possible for me to improve, to dust off my knees after each stupid mistake is my brother, my Savior, Jesus Christ. During this season, I celebrate Him. For where would I be without Him? In this world so often enfolded with darkness, He is my light.

I hope you have/had a great Christmas. Mine will be wonderful, because I get to spend it with friends and family. And ya know - the presents will be opened in 20 minutes, broken or lost in 24 hours, but the memories, they’ll last forever. Sniff.

With love...